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Original poster

WDW Orlando - wristbands

19 replies

wheezeontoast · 16/03/2015 12:09

Have been a few times, but this is first trip where the wristbands will be operating. Seems much more restrictive in that you have to decide in advance what parks you want to go to - do you really need to book things 60 days in advance? We're very close to that already . . . any advice?

Has anything else changed in past two years that I need to know about?

Thank you .

OP posts:

BloodyDogHairs · 17/03/2015 08:42

No you can choose what fast passes you want in the morning you go if you prefer.

Original poster

wheezeontoast · 17/03/2015 11:19

Really? I though they all got used up on pre-booking. So, the machines are still there at the entrance to the popular rides?

OP posts:

BloodyDogHairs · 17/03/2015 11:35

The machines are still there yes but last year at Hollywood studios I couldn't get passes for Tower of terror but managed them for Rocking rollercoaster. Do you have wi-fi where you are staying? you could book in the morning or night before.

I have my holiday planned so just counting down the days until I can book my fastpasses

Original poster

wheezeontoast · 17/03/2015 11:43

Yes, we're in a Disney hotel for the first week - I spoke to someone there when we booked about another thing, and she was making out that we had to book 60 days in advance or we'd never get on anything .

OP posts:

LucasNorthsTwiglets · 18/03/2015 11:59

The wristbands don't change anything, they are just another way to book Fastpasses (you don't even have to have a wristband). It's the change to the FastPass (now called FP+) system that's made the difference. I hated it at first but now I think it's much better, apart from the fact that you can realistically only have 3 FPs in one day (though you can technically get more). Some FPs DO get booked up in advance and you won't be able to get them on the day but this is fairly rare - I think it's probably just the Princess meet & greets, Mine Train, parades & fireworks that sell out v.quickly? It is still totally possible to get lots of FPs on the day (we have done) but the earlier you get there the better as things like Toy Story & Soarin' do run out pretty quickly on the day. As DogHairs said, get yourself the MDE app and book the night before if you have wifi. This will also save you queuing time in the parks, as there's always a bit of a queue to book FPs.

The old FP machines aren't there and you no longer book at the rides themselves - there are separate areas where you book all your rides in one go. Look for the FP+ logo on the park map.

Original poster

wheezeontoast · 18/03/2015 12:03

You have to book for parades and fireworks now? So, what happens if you don't? How do they kick people out?

I'm feeling stressed already . . .

OP posts:

roughtyping · 18/03/2015 12:04

I loved the wristbands but then I love being super planned when we go to WDW. They also act as your ticket into the park, and if you're staying at a WDW hotel they're your room key. You can check in to dining reservations with them too I think. But there are still fast pass kiosks, and staff with iPads who sort fast passes too.

FitzChivalry · 18/03/2015 12:14

The parades and firework fp are for reserved viewing areas. You can still grab a place at the kerb if you wish.

BloodyDogHairs · 18/03/2015 12:18

Is it worth getting a FP for parades? I usually just plonk myself on the kerb but if I can use a FP for a really good spot I might.

BloodyDogHairs · 18/03/2015 12:26

You said you are in a Disney hotel so you get extra hours, any rides you didn't manage during normal hours you could go back and ride them after the parks close to the public. but don't quote me on that

Original poster

wheezeontoast · 18/03/2015 12:30

I hate being super-planned rough . Much prefer to see where we want to go and what we want to do on the day.

With magic hours though Bloody we usually go to a park that isn't doing that as they seem to be quieter given that all the hotel guests go to wherever is open early/late.

Staff with ipads sorting things sounds good though . . .

OP posts:

LucasNorthsTwiglets · 18/03/2015 12:54

I've never bothered getting a FP for parades, DogHairs, but it may be worth it if you're very short on time and/or don't want to claim your spot and wait an hour beforehand. I don't think the FP parade area is better, just that you can go later. We usually use the waiting time for a rest and an ice-cream.

FitzChivalry · 18/03/2015 20:10

I found that the fp for wishes and the electrical ran out before the rides so if you want them book them quickly.

I've never used a fp for a parade but if there was one available went I went last I would have been tempted so we didn't have to wait for 30 mins for a good spot with a toddlr

Original poster

wheezeontoast · 21/03/2015 18:16

I've never waited for a parade before - well, never more than 5 minutes. Has something changed? You can always find a good spot, so can never quite understand when (on previous trips), you see people on the kerb 3 hours earlier.

Anyone know how I can book a Universal hotel without it costing a million quid? I don't remember them being so expensive either - I seem to have become one of the 'in my day' group very quickly given that it's only been two years since we were last there!

OP posts:

LucasNorthsTwiglets · 22/03/2015 00:19

I've never been able to get to the front of a parade without beign there at least 30 mins beforehand. I guess we're normally here about 45 mins before?

Universal hotels have def gone up since last year. I booked ours through hotels.com as they had good cashback - it IS pricey though :(

roughtyping · 22/03/2015 08:43

wheeze I booked mine through Barrhead Travel. It's expensive but I really felt it was worth it - we stayed at RPR for a night and loved every minute of it. Aah so wish we could go back!

roughtyping · 22/03/2015 08:44

Also meant to come back to say - you can book fast passes on your mobile on the day/the night before I think too.

I love florida holidays and I love being insanely planned for them! where are you staying?

Original poster

wheezeontoast · 22/03/2015 22:22

They have gone up haven't they Lucas? It's more for 5 nights there than return flights and over a week at Disney!

I'd forgotten about Barrhead Rough - I'll give them a go. Ideally Hard Rock, but availability seems very low. I'd rather not Royal Pacific, never tried Portofino. Cabana Bay seems fine - you're in the hotel for so little time anyway - but no fast passes included with there (or whatever Universal call them).

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butterfliesinmytummy · 23/03/2015 00:40

I went last halloween, booked a month before (live in Texas). We got all the fastpasses we wanted (you can swap them on the day too so there are often some available that weren't around the day before iyswim), stayed at the Dolphin hotel, couldn't get food reservations for character restaurants as we were too late but this is America, there were plenty of places to eat! Don't sorry at all about 60 days!

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